Greenwich's Jack Freiheit, top, works to turn over Fairfield Warde's Anthony Rotz, during FCIAC Wrestling Championship action at New Canaan High School in New Canaan, Conn. on Saturday February 15, 2014.

Greenwich's Jack Freiheit, top, works to turn over Fairfield Warde's Anthony Rotz, during FCIAC Wrestling Championship action at New Canaan High School in New Canaan, Conn. on Saturday February 15, 2014.

Danbury's Steven Beckham, right, wrestles against Fairfield Warde's Dylan Bender, during FCIAC Wrestling Championship action at New Canaan High School in New Canaan, Conn. on Saturday February 15, 2014.

Danbury's Steven Beckham, right, wrestles against Fairfield Warde's Dylan Bender, during FCIAC Wrestling Championship action at New Canaan High School in New Canaan, Conn. on Saturday February 15, 2014.

Greenwich's Jack Freiheit, top, works to turn over Fairfield Warde's Anthony Rotz, during FCIAC Wrestling Championship action at New Canaan High School in New Canaan, Conn. on Saturday February 15, 2014.

Greenwich's Jack Freiheit, top, works to turn over Fairfield Warde's Anthony Rotz, during FCIAC Wrestling Championship action at New Canaan High School in New Canaan, Conn. on Saturday February 15, 2014.

Fairfield Warde's Anthony Rotz grimaces in pain as his arm is brought back by Greenwich's Jack Freiheit, during FCIAC Wrestling Championship action at New Canaan High School in New Canaan, Conn. on Saturday February 15, 2014. less

Fairfield Warde's Anthony Rotz grimaces in pain as his arm is brought back by Greenwich's Jack Freiheit, during FCIAC Wrestling Championship action at New Canaan High School in New Canaan, Conn. on Saturday ... more

History repeats itself -- Hatters win 27th FCIAC wrestling title in 28 years

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NEW CANAAN -- There are two things you can almost always count on at this time of year: a snowstorm and a Danbury High victory at the FCIAC wrestling championships.

Saturday featured both, with the mighty Hatters winning their 27th conference crown in the last 28 years in a tournament that was shortened from two days to one because of one snowstorm, then abbreviated further because of another.

Danbury put wrestlers in the finals in 10 of the 15 weight classes, won five individual titles and scored 260.5 team points.

Fairfield Warde took second with six finalists, four champions and 214 points while Trumbull finished third with seven finalists, five champions and 184 team points.

Chris Sam (99 pounds), Paulo Freitas (106), Chris Bryant (120), Kevin Jack (132) and Johnny Garcia (170) each won a title for Danbury, which won its fourth straight FCIAC championship since seeing its string of consecutive titles -- which started in 1987 -- snapped in 2010 by Fairfield Warde.

And that winning tradition is something each new generation of Hatter wrestlers aspires to preserve and continue.

"It's in our tradition to win it," said Freitas, who won a 6-0 decision in his championship match. "We have a standard to live up to."

Ventura's win in the finals was particularly dramatic, as he scored a two-point reversal with 28 seconds remaining to edge Trumbull's Joey Ryan, 2-1.

"I'm terrible on bottom. Usually, I can never get up," Ventura admitted. "Going through my head, I was like `I have to do something. I have to win this match.'"

Ventura's name may ring a bell with Danbury folks, as his older brother, Marcio, won the 215-pound final in 2010 -- which sealed Warde's championship and ended Danbury's streak. As soon as Colin stepped off the mat Saturday, the first person he called was his older brother.

"It was in my head that I couldn't let him have one more thing against me, so I had to win," Ventura said with a smile.

Also for Warde, Utsav Shretha (99) and Dan Ebert (126) both placed second, Jack Price (106) and Alex Mayer (195) both took third and Anthony Rotz (152) and Mike Sheets (170) finished fourth.

"I did what I had to do and wrestled smart. That's all there is to it," said Raverta, a junior and a first-year varsity wrestler.

The only FCIAC champion not from Danbury, Warde or Trumbull was Fairfield Ludlowe 145-pound sophomore Chase Lind, who won a 6-4 decision over Danbury's Matt Fields. Lind led 6-1 in the second period before Fields began to rally.

"I just wanted to play it safe and make sure I held the title," Lind said of his strategy once he took the lead. "But I didn't want to let up. I didn't want to put myself at risk, so I just played it safe."

Also for fourth-place Ludlowe, George Wales (106) and Ben Batulanon (120) both placed second, Eric Kirchgasser (113) took third and Marcus Sheerod (126), Bobby Clark (132) and Jacob Jessen (220) all finished fourth.